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Preface
Over the last few years, several readers have indicated to me
that the articles in the Introductory Course in Buddhism were
too brief and should be expanded to provide more details.
This new book entitled “Buddhism Course” is a
carefully researched and upgraded version. It contains 17
chapters dealing with most of the relevant topics on Buddhism,
such as: Life of the Buddha, Four Noble Truths and Eightfold
Noble Path, Dependent Origin, Law of Kamma, Death and
Rebirth, Five Destinations, World Cycles when Buddhas Appear,
Ten Bases of Meritorious Action, Buddhist Vipassana
Meditation, Recollection of the Buddha, Dhamma and
Sangha and the Three Baskets (Tipitaka) in Buddhism.
In this book,
reference material from various has been utilized to provide
readers with some new interesting articles on Buddhism. “Death
and Rebirth” describes the modes of death and objects presented
to the mind before death such as the five visions of a dying
person followed by the modes of birth. “Five Destinations (Pancagati)”
describes in detail the Thirty-one Planes of Existence or planes
of rebirth recognized in Buddhist Cosmology. “World Cycles When
Buddhas Appear” describes the conditions for the rare appearance
of a Buddha as well as the perfections (parami) that an
aspirant has to practise to achieve the status of Pacceka
Buddha and Maha Arahant. “Recollection of the Buddha,
Dhamma and Sangha” describes in detail the Nine
Supreme Virtue of the Buddha, the Six Virtues of the Dhamma
and the Nine Virtues of the Sangha, respectively.
Understanding of the virtues of the Triple Gem is a condition
for success in the practice of the meditation of Mindfulness of
the Buddha, Dhamma and Sangha.
“Three Baskets
(Tipitaka) in Buddhism” is the longest article containing
50 pages chronicling the history of how the Pali Canon was
preserved over the last 2500 years of its existence through the
Buddhist Councils, starting from the Council of Rajagaha three
months after Parinibbana to the Sixth Council in Yangon
2500 years later in 1956. Although a bit lengthy, the author
decided to publish it in this book to enable the reader to know,
understand and appreciate the crucial role of the Sangha
in the preservation, propagation and perpetuation of the Buddha
Sasana.
Many articles
have been expanded with detailed explanatory notes added,
notably in Chapter I – Life of the Buddha, Chapter IV
-
Dependent Origination and Chapter XII – “Transference of Merits
to Departed Relatives”.
The compilation
of this book was a labour of love and a source of joy. It is
hoped that readers will find pleasure in reading the articles
and benefit from them.
Dedication
This book is dedicated to all
my spiritual teachers who have helped me in one way or another
in my progress towards understanding the Dhamma, in
particular, the following teachers below:
Chanmyay Yeiktha Meditation
Centre, Yangon, Myanmar
·
Chanmyay
Sayadaw Bhadanta Janakabhivamsa,
·
Sayadaw U
Sobhita
·
Sayadaw U
Rewata,
·
Sayadaw U
Wathawa,
·
Sayadaw U
Kittidhaja,
·
Sayadaw U
Rakkhita Dhamma,
·
Ven. U
Nyanaramsi,
·
Ven.
Ariya Nani,
·
Mr. Khin
Maung Win (formerly Sayadaw U Khemissara), and
·
Mr. Jeff
Oliver (formerly Ven. U Dhammarakkhita)
Chan Myae Myaing Meditation
Centre, Yangon, Myanmar
·
Sayadaw Ashin
Indaka
Vishwa Shanti Vihara,
Kathmandu, Nepal
·
Venerable
Bhikshu Jnanapurnik
Sri Lankan Buddhist Temple,
Sentul, Kuala Lumpur
·
Venerable
Saranankara Mahathera
Ngakyanpyan Dhamma Yeiktha,
Yangon, Myanmar
·
Sayadaw U
Dhammapiya
Santisukharama Meditation
Centre, Kota Tinggi, Johore
·
Venerable Sujiva
Acknowledgements & Sharing of Merits
I am grateful
to Sis Wooi Kheng Choo and Sis Christine Lee Chin Har of Subang
Jaya Buddhist Association for proof-reading the manuscript and
making many useful suggestions for improvement. The assistance
of Mr. Tey Seng Heng, my former colleague at Applied
Agricultural Research Sdn. Bhd. in the computer work is
gratefully acknowledged. Finally, I wish to thank the various
individuals and societies for their support in the publication
of this book so that it can be used as a Buddhism Course that
will lead to better understanding of Buddhist history and
doctrine.
May the merits
of this Dhammadana be shared with relatives, friends and
all beings.
Sadhu! Sadhu! Sadhu!
Bro. Chan Khoon San, June 2006
About the
Author
Bro.
Chan Khoon San
was born on 8 August 1941 in Penang where he
received his early education. After completing sixth form in
1960, he joined the Malayan Teachers College at Brinsford Lodge,
UK where he underwent two years teacher training. On completion
of the course, he taught briefly from 1964 to 1967. In 1968, he
entered the University of Malaya and graduated with a B.Sc. (Hons)
degree in Chemistry in 1971. From 1971 till his retirement in
1996, he worked as a Research Chemist in a large plantation
company. He is married with two grown-up daughters.
After retiring
in 1996, Bro. Chan went to Myanmar to pursue the intensive
practice of Satipatthana Vipassana meditation under the
guidance of Chanmyay Sayadaw Bhadanta Janakabhivamsa
at Chanmyay Yeiktha Meditation Centre in Yangon. In 1998, he
went for his second retreat at the countryside centre in Hmawbi,
where he practised under the guidance of Venerable
Sayadaw U Indaka. Since then, he has gone for regular annual
retreats at Hmawbi practising under Venerable U
Nyanaramsi and other instructors, during the cold season
from December to February. For the rest of the year, he teaches
Buddhism at various Buddhist societies in the Klang Valley.
Since 1997, he has organized several Buddhist pilgrimages to
India and has also written a book entitled ‘Buddhist
Pilgrimage’ describing the holy shrines of Buddhism in India
today.
Compiled and published for
free distribution by:
Bro. Chan Khoon San,
91, Leboh Bagor, Taman
Petaling,
41200 Klang, Malaysia
Email:
khoonsan@tm.net.my
ISBN 13: 978-983-41633-1-0
ISBN 10: 983-41633-1-2
© Copyright 2006, Chan Khoon
San
All commercial rights
reserved. Any reproduction in whole or part, in any form, for
sale, profit or material gain is strictly prohibited. The
reprinting of this book in its entirety, for free distribution
as a gift of Dhamma, is allowed after prior notification
to the author.
Cover Design by Chan Khoon
San
Cover photo shows the huge
image of a seated Buddha carved into a high rock face of reddish
colour which rises on the hillside to the south-west of
Jehanabad near Mingora in the Swat Valley (ancient Uddiyana) of
Northern Pakistan. This well-preserved Buddha figure dated 7-8th
century AD is 7 metres in height and is certainly the most
impressive sculpture that was seen by the author in the Gandhara
region during a tour of Northern Pakistan in August 2005.
Printed in Kuala Lumpur,
Malaysia by:
Majujaya Indah Sdn. Bhd.,
68, Jalan 14E, Ampang New
Village,
68000 Selangor Darul Ehsan,
Malaysia
Tel: 03-42916001, 42916002,
Fax: 03-42922053
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